March 22, 2013

Dear Parents,

Thank you for attending Open House on February 27. It was good to see parents visiting classrooms and viewing student’s work on display. We had an outstanding attendance for the sixth grade Parent Orientation Night.

Thornton Junior High has been named Hoops for Heart School of the Year. Last spring, through the leadership and coordination of Mrs. Detar the students raised over four thousand dollars for the American Heart Association. Mrs. Detar coordinated the school wide service learning project that included participation of other curriculum areas that focused on the heart. Thank you to Mrs. Detar, students and teachers for their work that focused on the heart.

Students took the writing tests on March 5^th. Seventh graders took the STAR writing test and eighth graders completed the District writing test. This year a new format was used for the eighth graders that included one day of taking notes as they viewed two short videos and read information about the topic. The second day they used their notes and visuals to write their essays. Eighth graders gave positive feedback about the new way of testing. The new writing test was an example of the type of knowledge based skills that students that will acquire and demonstrate using Common Core Standards.

The Fremont PTA Council will sponsor an information meeting on Common Core State Standards on April 15, at 7pm in FUSD Board Room. Please plan to attend. We need you support as we move to Common Core Standards.

We need your help in making sure that all registration materials have been returned to the school.

Thank you for your support as we work to do what is best for all students.

Happy spring time!   

Sincerely,

Phyllis Hamilton